FOOTBALL officials have expressed deep appreciation and gratitude for the country being chosen as one of the stops of the two-day FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy tour that ended yesterday at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati.
“Being chosen as one of the legs of the FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy tour is truly a memorable moment for Philippine football and a testament on how FIFA looks at the development of the sport in this part of the world,” Philippine Football Federation general secretary Atty. Edwin Gastanes said.
Gastanes issued the statement during the formal presentation of the trophy at the Sofitel hotel in Pasay City last Wednesday night that was graced by Sen. Pia Cayetano and Philippine Sports Commission executive director Atty. Guillermo Iroy Jr.
The International Football Federation, the world football body known by its French acronym FIFA, chose the Philippines as the third leg of the trophy’s barnstorming tour around the world after the Filipinas qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
“It is a very happy occasion for Philippine football and all our stakeholders. We hope that the current generation will support this and hope this will lead to the growth of the sport in the country,” Gastanes said. “We hope the trophy’s presence here will be the start of something big for the sport and women’s football.”
Filipinas team manager Jeff Cheng also gushed at the presence of the trophy that will go to the champion of the 32-nation global showcase for women’s football.
“We had mixed emotions when we saw the trophy for the first time. I am happy for the team, happy for the players, happy for the Filipinos to be participating in one of the most prestigious events in the world,” Cheng said.
Peter Kell, the New Zealand ambassador to the Philippines who was present during the trophy unveiling, said the selection of Manila as one of the tour stops was “absolutely brilliant.”
“It is not the fact that the trophy is here that’s important but the fact that the Philippines women’s team made it to the World Cup is very significant,” Kell said.
